Court rules Ohio can’t prevent people from changing gender on birth certificates
Updated Dec 17, 2020;
COLUMBUS, Ohio Ohio can’t keep refusing to allow people to change the gender listings on their birth certificates, a federal court ruled Wednesday.
In response to a lawsuit brought by four transgender people, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio found Ohio’s birth certificate rule imposed by the state Department of Health and the Office of Vital Statistics is unconstitutional.
The state was weighing an appeal.
Judge Michael Watson rejected the state of Ohio’s arguments that the policy helped prevent fraud and maintain a historically accurate record of its citizenry. He called such justifications “nothing more than thinly veiled post-hoc rationales to deflect from the discriminatory impact of the policy.”
Court Rules Ohio Must Allow Gender Changes On Birth Certificates
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio found the birth certificate rule imposed by the state Department of Health and the Office of Vital Statistics is unconstitutional.
Julie Carr Smyth
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Ohio can’t keep refusing to allow people to change the gender listings on their birth certificates, a federal court ruled Wednesday.
In response to a lawsuit brought by four transgender people, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio found Ohio’s birth certificate rule imposed by the state Department of Health and the Office of Vital Statistics is unconstitutional.
Federal judge rules Ohio birth certificate policy is unconstitutional washingtonblade.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from washingtonblade.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Supporters of the LGBTQ community hold placards in front of the U.S. Supreme Court last year. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (CN) A federal judge ruled Wednesday that Ohio’s refusal to let transgender residents change the gender on their birth certificates is unconstitutional, finding the policy exposes them to workplace discrimination and a heightened risk of violence.
U.S. District Judge Michael Watson in Columbus sided with four transgender individuals, represented by Lambda Legal and the ACLU, who sued over the policy two and a half years ago, claiming it violates their equal protection and due process under the 14th Amendment.
Court: Ohio must allow gender changes on birth certificates
In response to a lawsuit brought by four transgender people, a federal court found Ohio’s birth certificate rule unconstitutional. The state is likely to appeal.
Credit: Getty Images Published: 4:57 PM EST December 16, 2020 Updated: 5:13 PM EST December 16, 2020
Ohio can’t keep refusing to allow people to change the gender listings on their birth certificates, a federal court ruled Wednesday.
In response to a lawsuit brought by four transgender people, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio found Ohio’s birth certificate rule imposed by the state Department of Health and the Office of Vital Statistics is unconstitutional.